HOTEL KEY CARDS

For all you travellers, something to think about.
>
> This is pretty good info. Never even thought about key cards containing
> anything other than an access code for the room!
> >
> > HOTEL KEY CARDS
> >
> > Ever wonder what is on your magnetic key card?
> >
> > Answer:
> > a. Customer's name
> > b. Customer's partial home address
> > c. Hotel room number
> > d. Check-in date and out dates
> > e. Customer's credit card number and expiration date!
> >
> > When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is
> > there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the hotel
> > scanner. An employee can take a handful of cards home and using a
> > scanning device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go
> > shopping at your expense.
> >
> > Simply put, hotels do not erase the information on these cards until an
> > employee reissues the card to the next hotel guest. At that time, the new
> > guest's information is electronically 'overwritten' on the card and the
> > previous guest's information is erased in the overwriting process.
> >
> > But until the card is rewritten for the next guest, it usually is kept in
> > a drawer at the front desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT!
> >
> > The bottom line is: Keep the cards, take them home with you, or destroy
> > them. NEVER leave them behind in the room or room wastebasket, and NEVER
> > turn them into the front desk when you check out of a room. They will not
> > charge you for the card (it's illegal) and you'll be sure you are not
> > leaving a lot of valuable personal information on it that could be easily
> > lifted off with any simple scanning device card reader.
> >
> > For the same reason, if you arrive at the airport and discover you still
> > have the card key in your pocket, do not toss it in an airport trash
> > basket. Take it home and destroy it by cutting it up, especially through
> > the electronic information strip!
> >
> > If you have a small magnet, pass it across the magnetic strip several
> > times. Then try it in the door, it will not work. It erases everything on
> > the card.